Guys, what a killer weekend of announcements it was, right? With both the Xbox Showcase and the PC Gaming Show dishing out games like an all-you-can-eat Sushi buffet, we had over 50 titles worth of trailers to shove down our gullets.
The dish that I was most eager for, though, was Starfield Direct. When the game was first announced, I felt like so many people were quite negative about it, I was hopeful, and I was even more so last night, hoping that the Direct would deliver to show those pessimists that the cup is not half full, but overflowing.
I think they showed them. While I have a few minor concerns, I watched the whole Direct with wide eyes full of wonder.
During the Direct, the Bethesda team kept emphasising that while Starfield is an entirely new world, but still feels like a Bethesda RPG. A game where you can seemingly take your own path, get lost for a few hours on some random side quest because of the story behind it and then find yourself trekking 348 Lightyear’s back to the first world to take on the main story. I immediately thought back to my time playing Morrowind and how it was all the exploring and going off the beaten path that I remember rather than the main quest line. I got the exact same feeling while watching the Starfield gameplay that was on display.
What I also loved during the Direct was how much customisation there was! I can spend hours customising things; I mean, I rework my outfit in Diablo 4 after every visit to the blacksmith, so to see how much I will have available to me in Starfield has me all gooey inside. From my actual character to the pieces on my ship and even my outposts, I can build them exactly how I want to. Each company or ‘brand-name’ also offers up a different look, meaning my IKEA hab will look a little more DIY than the one purchased from Coricraft.
The Direct also showed off the amazing lighting system the team has been working on. Each planet you encounter will have a different atmosphere, so the colours that shine through will be slightly different. Every plant will have its own unique sunrises and sunsets, and with exploration as one of the key features of the game, this new lighting will just add so much to every nook and cranny that I explore.
While I’m not so keen on the collector’s edition watch, I do appreciate the amount of detail that went into designing it and the sexy case that it comes in. The watch is designed to match the watch you wear in-game, while the case itself is also designed in the style of in-game objects. However, I am a fan of the new Starfield Xbox controller and will keep my eyes out for when that hits the shelves.
I for one am excited. Starfield looks like an eclectic mix of old-school Bethesda games, mixed in with a little bit of Freelancer and then prettied up by the amazing graphical technology we have at our fingertips. If you don’t hear from me after the 6th of August for a few weeks, it’ll be because I’m lost in space, on purpose.
If you didn’t manage to catch the direct last night, here it is; let me know what you think about it in the comments below.